US8339782B2 - Handheld electronic device and keypad having keys with upstanding engagement surfaces - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved handheld electronic device and keypad include keys having upstanding engagement surfaces that provide a greater effective space between keys than the nominal key-to-key distance therebetween. More particularly, an upstanding engagement surface of one key is spaced farther from that of an adjacent key than the nominal key-to-key distance therebetween. The added space facilitates input by reducing miskeying errors, which allows for faster input with reduced visual and mental attention being required during such input.

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosed and claimed concept relates generally to handheld electronic devices and, more particularly, to a handheld electronic device and a keypad having keys that include an upstanding engagement surface.

2. Background Information

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples of such handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices also a feature wireless communication capability, although many such handheld electronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional without communication with other devices.

With the progress of technology, handheld electronic devices have grown increasingly sophisticated in terms of functions, features, and the like, while at the same time have become progressively smaller in size. As new handheld electronic devices become smaller and smaller, such devices can become more and more difficult to use for a number of reasons, including the small size and the close spacing of keys and other elements on a handheld electronic device. While attempts have been made to overcome the shortcomings associated with relatively smaller handheld electronic devices, such attempts have not been without limitation. It thus would be desirable to provide an improved handheld electronic device and an improved keypad that provide enhanced usability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the disclosed and claimed concept can be gained from the following Description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an improved handheld electronic device in accordance with the disclosed and claimed concept;

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the improved handheld electronic device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a keypad of the handheld electronic device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the keypad;

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict actuation of the keypad by a user; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic cutaway view of a typical hand of the user.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.

DESCRIPTION

An improved handheld electronic device4 is indicated generally inFIG. 1 and is depicted schematically inFIG. 2. The exemplary handheld electronic device4 includes ahousing6 upon which are disposed aninput apparatus8, anoutput apparatus12, and aprocessor apparatus16. Theinput apparatus8 is structured to provide input to theprocessor apparatus16, and theoutput apparatus12 is structured to receive output signals from theprocessor apparatus16. Theoutput apparatus12 comprises adisplay18 that is structured to provide visual output, although other output devices such as speakers, LEDs, tactile output devices, vibration motors, and so forth can be additionally or alternatively used.

As can be understood fromFIG. 1, theinput apparatus8 includes akeypad24 and a multiple-axis input device which, in the exemplary embodiment depicted herein, is atrack ball32 that will be described in greater detail below. Thekeypad24 comprises a plurality ofkeys28 that can have characters (not expressly depicted herein for purposes of clarity) assigned thereto in the exemplary form of a QWERTY keyboard. Other character layouts such as AZERTY and QWERTZ, by way of example, may be employed without departing from the present concept. Thekeys28 and thetrack ball32 all serve as input members that are actuatable to provide input to theprocessor apparatus16. Thekeypad24 and thetrack ball32 are advantageously disposed adjacent one another on a front face of thehousing6. This enables a user to operate thetrack ball32 substantially without moving the user's hands away from thekeypad24 during a text entry operation or other operation.

While in the depicted exemplary embodiment the multiple-axis input device is thetrack ball32, it is noted that multiple-axis input devices other than thetrack ball32 can be employed without departing from the present concept. For instance, other appropriate multiple-axis input devices could include mechanical devices such as joysticks and the like and/or non-mechanical devices such as touch pads, track pads and the like and/or other devices which detect motion or input in other fashions, such as through the use of optical sensors or piezoelectric crystals.

Thetrack ball32 is freely rotatable about multiple axes that extend through the center of thetrack ball32 and, in the present exemplary embodiment, is freely rotatable in all directions with respect to thehousing6. A rotation of the track ball32 a predetermined rotational distance with respect to thehousing6 provides an input to theprocessor apparatus16, and such inputs can be employed by a number of routines, for example, as navigational inputs, scrolling inputs, selection inputs, and other inputs. As employed herein, the expression “a number of” and variations thereof shall refer broadly to any non-zero quantity, including a quantity of one.

Thetrack ball32 additionally is translatable toward thehousing6, i.e., into the plane of the page ofFIG. 1, to provide additional inputs. Thetrack ball32 could be translated in such a fashion by, for example, a user applying an actuating force to thetrack ball32 in a direction toward thehousing6, such as by pressing on thetrack ball32. The inputs that are provided to theprocessor apparatus16 as a result of a translation of thetrack ball32 in the indicated fashion can be employed by the routines, for example, as selection inputs, delimiter inputs, or other inputs.

As can be seen inFIG. 2, theprocessor apparatus16 comprises aprocessor36 and amemory40. Theprocessor36 may be, for instance and without limitation, a microprocessor (μP) that is responsive to inputs from theinput apparatus8 and that provides output signals to theoutput apparatus12. Theprocessor36 interfaces with thememory40.

Thememory40 can be said to constitute a machine-readable storage medium and can comprise any one or more of a variety of types of internal and/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM, EPROM(s), EEPROM(s), FLASH, and the like that provide a storage register for data storage such as in the fashion of an internal or external storage area of a computer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. Thememory40 has stored therein a number of routines which are executable on theprocessor36 to cause the handheld electronic device4 to perform certain operations. The routines can be in any of a variety of forms such as, without limitation, software, firmware, and the like.

As can be understood fromFIG. 1, thekeys28 are arranged in a plurality of rows that extend generally along afirst direction42 and a plurality of columns that extend along asecond direction44. From the perspective ofFIG. 1, the exemplary first direction is the horizontal direction and the exemplary second direction is the vertical direction. The handheld electronic device4 can be said to have amain axis43 that extends through thetrack ball32 and that, from the perspective ofFIG. 1, extends in thesecond direction44. Thekeys28 can generally be said to be arranged in afirst array48 disposed on a right-hand portion56 of thehousing6 and asecond array52 disposed on a left-hand portion58 of thehousing6. Thefirst array48 and right-hand portion56 of thehousing6 are disposed at one side of themain axis43, and thesecond array52 and the left-hand portion58 of thehousing6 are disposed at another side of themain axis43. Thekeypad24 also includes a <SPACE>key128 that can be said to span the first andsecond arrays48 and52 or that alternatively can be said to not be included exclusively within either thefirst array48 or thesecond array52.

Thekeypad24 is depicted inFIGS. 3 and 4 as being removed from thehousing6 of the handheld electronic device4 for purposes of illustration. Thekeys28 generally each include abase portion60 and anengagement portion64 disposed thereon. Theengagement portion64 is upstanding from thebase portion60 to provide a stepped configuration to eachsuch key28. Eachbase portion60 includes abase surface68 that is depicted in the accompanying figures as being of a generally planar configuration. Eachengagement portion64 includes anupstanding engagement surface72 and anupper surface74, with theengagement surface72 generally extending between thebase surface68 and theupper surface74. In the exemplary embodiment depicted herein, eachupper surface74 is depicted as being generally planar and parallel with thebase surface68 of thesame key28. Thebase surfaces68 are depicted herein as being generally coplanar with one another, and theupper surfaces74 are likewise depicted herein as being generally coplanar, but it is understood that thebase surfaces68 or theupper surfaces74 or both can have configurations other than those expressly depicted herein without departing from the present concept.

As can be understood fromFIGS. 1 and 3, for example, theengagement surfaces72 are non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another and each face in an outward direction toward either a first fixedreference76 or a second fixedreference80, both of which are disposed outboard of thehousing6. Most if not all of theengagement surfaces72 are each oriented oblique to the first andsecond directions42 and44, and the particular orientation of eachengagement surface72 varies according to the location of theengagement surface72 or itskey28 or both within thefirst array48 or thesecond array52. For instance, thekeys28 can be said to include akey28P, akey28B, and a key28Y, all of which are situated in thefirst array48. Theengagement surfaces72 of thekeys28P,28B, and28Y are situated in different orientations because they are disposed at different locations within thefirst array48. However, the engagement surfaces72 of thesekeys28P,28B, and28Y both face generally toward the first fixedreference76.

More particularly, thebase surface68 and theengagement surface72 of any given key28 can be said to intersect with one another along anintersection axis84 of the key28. Theintersection axis84 of any such key28 is disposed substantially perpendicular to anengagement axis86 that extends between theintersection axis84 and whichever of the fixed references toward which theengagement surface72 generally faces, i.e., the first fixedreference76 for thekeys28 within thefirst array48 and the second fixedreference80 for thekeys28 within thesecond array52. While the engagement surfaces72 are depicted herein as each being generally planar and intersecting thecorresponding base surface68 along a sharply defined and depicted line, it is understood that such a depiction is intended merely for purposes of illustration and is not intended to be limiting. For instance, thebase surface68 and theupstanding engagement surface72 of any given key28 might have a filleted, i.e., curved intersection, and the line of intersection may additionally or alternatively be arcuate rather than straight. Moreover, the engagement surfaces72 may themselves each be non-planar, such as by being concave, convex, and the like without limitation. While in the accompanying figures theintersection axis84 is clearly depicted as being linear and well defined, it is understood that the depiction of theintersection axis84 and theengagement axis86 is intended to represent the fashion in which eachengagement surface72 faces generally toward either the first fixedreference76 or the second fixedreference80.

As can be understood fromFIGS. 3 and 4, the configuration of thekeys28 to include theupstanding engagement surface72 advantageously facilitates input by providing an additional surface, i.e., theengagement surface72, that can be contacted when actuating the key28 and that is spaced a greater distance from an adjacent key than the nominal key-to-key spacing betweenadjacent keys28. For instance, the distance betweenadjacent keys28 is indicated in an exemplary fashion in each ofFIG. 3 andFIG. 4 at the numeral88. A distance between anengagement surface72 of a key28 and that of an adjacent key28 can be said to constitute a pitch space that is indicated generally in each ofFIG. 3 andFIG. 4 at the numeral92. Thepitch space92 is significantly larger than thedistance88 betweenadjacent keys28, and typically is several times larger. As such, when actuatingkeys28 via engagement of theirengagement surfaces72, a far lesser likelihood exists of mistakenly engaging an adjacent key28 rather than an intendedkey28. This facilitates input by enabling the user to actuatekeys28 with greater speed and accuracy and with relatively lesser visual and mental attention than would be required when operating another keypad that did not include the upstanding engagement surfaces72 described herein.

As can be further understood fromFIGS. 1,3, and4, the <SPACE>key128 includes abase portion160 and anengagement portion164, with theengagement portion164 comprising afirst engagement portion164A and asecond engagement portion164B which in the depicted embodiment are connected together. Thefirst engagement portion164A includes a pair of engagement surfaces, i.e., afirst engagement surface172A and asecond engagement surface172B, both of which are upstanding from thebase portion160 and which face generally away from one another. That is, thefirst engagement surface172A faces generally toward the first fixedreference76, and thesecond engagement surface172B faces generally toward the second fixedreference80. Thesecond engagement portion164B advantageously includes anadditional engagement surface172C that is upstanding from thebase portion160 and that faces generally toward thekeys28 that are disposed in rows above the <SPACE>key128, i.e., the three rows ofkeys28 that are depicted inFIG. 1 as being vertically higher than the <SPACE>key128.

Theadditional engagement surface172C advantageously facilitates input by facing generally toward suchother keys28 disposed in the aforementioned relatively higher rows. That is, the <SPACE>key128 is typically actuated during text entry with a far greater frequency than any other key28, and a user entering text will frequently move between an actuation of one of thekeys28 disposed above the <SPACE>key128 and an actuation of the <SPACE> key itself128. Such movements often include a substantial vertical component from the perspective ofFIG. 1, and theadditional engagement surface172C advantageously serves as another engagement surface that is spaced farther, as at the numeral192 inFIG. 3, in a vertical direction (again from the perspective ofFIG. 1) from the engagement surfaces72 of thekeys28 adjacent to the <SPACE>key128 than the key-to-key spacing, as at the numeral188 inFIG. 3, between the <SPACE>key128 and suchadjacent keys28. Again, theadditional engagement surface172C advantageously facilitates input by minimizing erroneous key actuations and by requiring less visual and mental attention to provide such input, in a fashion similar to the engagement surfaces72 of theother keys28. The orientation of theadditional engagement surface172C to face generally toward theother keys28 further facilitates input by enabling an economy of physical movement between the <SPACE>key128 andadjacent keys28, such as during text entry.

The exemplary first and secondfixed references76 and80 that are depicted inFIG. 1 can be said to coincide generally with a joint of a user'shand210 which, in the example depicted generally inFIG. 6, is the joint at the base of thethumb214, i.e., a joint222 at which themetacarpal220 of the thumb articulates with acarpal bone234 of thesame hand210, although another joint of thethumb214 can likewise be employed. As is generally understood, the articulation motion of any such joint includes both a rotation component and a sliding component meaning that, for example, themetacarpal220 and carpal234 do not articulate about a point, but rather the motion includes both a rotation and translation of one with respect to the other during articulation. As such, the first and secondfixed references76 and80 are depicted inFIG. 1 as not being points, but rather being small areas. The first and secondfixed references76 and80 are depicted inFIG. 1 as corresponding with a position at or above the aforementioned joint222 between the metacarpal220 and the carpal234 of the right andleft hands210, respectively, it being understood that the right and left hands are mirror images of one another and that only the right hand is expressly depicted herein for purposes of simplicity. That is, from the perspective ofFIG. 1, the first and secondfixed references76 and80 are situated at a location spaced outward from the plane of the page ofFIG. 1, and are generally also spaced outward in the same direction from a plane that comprises the base surfaces68 of thekeys28. Such spacing can represent the actual position of the aforementioned joint between the metacarpal220 and the carpal234, or the first and secondfixed references76 and80 can be disposed still further above such a joint222.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate the way in which thethumb214 of thehand210 can move with respect to thehand210, such as when the non-thumb portions of thehand210 are kept generally stationary. The actuation movement of thethumb214 as to any given key28 typically is in a direction directly toward the key28 from the aforementioned joint222 between the metacarpal220 and the carpal234, or a location spaced above such a joint222, i.e., out of the plane of the page ofFIG. 1.

As can be understood fromFIG. 5A, the direction of actuation, which is indicated generally at the numeral86A, is in a generally diagonal direction between the first fixedreference76 and the key28Y being actuated, i.e., diagonal with respect to the first andsecond directions42 and44. InFIG. 5B, however, the movement of thethumb214 in actuating the particular key28P that is being actuated is in another direction of actuation, which is indicated generally at the numeral86B, and which is generally more vertical (from the perspective ofFIGS. 1 and 5B) from the first fixedreference76 than the direction ofaction86A. Hence, the engagement surfaces72 of thekeys28 are disposed at different orientations depending upon their positions in thekeypad24, meaning dependent upon their positions with respect to the first fixedreference76 or the second fixedreference80.

It is reiterated that the upstanding engagement surfaces72 advantageously facilitate input by serving as surfaces that can be engaged by the user in actuating thekeys28. The orientation of the engagement surfaces72 to be non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another and to face in a direction generally toward the first or secondfixed references76 or80 in a fashion that varies according to the location of theengagement surface72 on thekeypad24 causes the engagement surfaces72 to each be oriented generally toward the aforementioned joint222 between the metacarpal220 and the carpal234. This enables a user to easily actuate any givenkey28 by applying an actuation force with thethumb214 along a direction of actuation that extends from the joint222 in a direction generally perpendicular to theengagement surface72. Thus, the physical effort that is required of a user to actuate thekeys28 in the aforementioned fashion is less than would be required if the keys were otherwise arranged since in the current arrangement the actuation force is applied along the direction of actuation which is generally perpendicular to the orientation of theengagement surface72. This, in turn, facilitates input by enabling the user to actuate thekeys28 with greater speed and accuracy and with relatively less visual and mental attention and less physical effort than would be required if operating another keypad that did not include the upstanding engagement surfaces72 described herein.

FIG. 6 generally depicts the skeletal aspects of the exemplaryright hand210 of the user and, more particularly, thethumb214. Thethumb214 comprises the metacarpal220, afirst phalanx226, and asecond phalanx230. The metacarpal220 articulates at the joint222 that it makes with thecarpal bone234 of thehand210. Thefirst phalanx226 forms another joint with the metacarpal220, and thesecond phalanx230 forms still another joint with thefirst phalanx226. The joint222 between the metacarpal220 and the carpal234 typically is difficult to perceive visually and generally cannot be seen inFIGS. 5A and 5B apart from the approximated indication shown at the numeral222 therein. The joint between the metacarpal220 and thefirst phalanx226 is generally visible, and the joint between the first andsecond phalanges226 and230 likewise is generally visible. However, such joints do not necessarily represent the first and secondfixed references76 and80, and rather it is reiterated that the exemplary first and secondfixed references76 and80 coincide with the joint between thethumb metacarpals220 and thecarpals234 with which they articulate.

The improved handheld electronic device4 andkeypad24 thus facilitate input by providing the upstanding engagement surfaces72,172A,172B, and172C which are spaced farther apart from one another and fromadjacent keys28 than the nominal key-to-key distance. Such greater spacing reduces the likelihood of miskeying errors, which allows for faster input and reduced visual and mental attention required during such input.

While specific embodiments of the disclosed and claimed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed and claimed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims (18)

1. A handheld electronic device that is structured to be operated by the thumbs of a user, the handheld electronic device comprising:

a housing having a left-hand portion and a right-hand portion;

a keypad disposed on the housing;

the keypad comprising a plurality of keys situated in a plurality of rows that extend along a first direction and a plurality of columns that extend along a second direction;

the keys being arranged in a first array and a second array, the first array being disposed on the right-hand portion of the housing, the second array being disposed on the left-hand portion of the housing;

the keys being of a stepped shape and comprising a base portion and an upstanding engagement portion disposed on the base portion, the base portions each having a base surface, the engagement portions each having an upstanding engagement surface;

the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys each being oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another;

the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the first array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the first array; and

the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the second array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the second array.

2. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the first array each face generally toward a first fixed reference disposed at a location outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing, and wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the second array each face generally toward a second fixed reference disposed at a location outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing.

3. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein the base surface and the engagement surface of each of at least some of the keys of the first array meet along an intersection axis of the key that is oriented generally perpendicular to an engagement axis of the key that extends between the intersection axis and the first fixed reference, the orientation of the engagement axis of the key varying according to the location of the key within the first array.

4. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein the first fixed reference coincides with a position at or above a joint of a right hand of a user of the keypad at which a right thumb metacarpal articulates with a carpal.

5. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein the engagement surface of each of at least some of the keys is oriented oblique to the base surface of the key.

6. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 5 wherein at least some of the base surfaces are oriented generally coplanar.

7. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the first array each face generally away from the second array, and wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the second array each face generally away from the first array.

8. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein, for each of at least some of the keys, at least a portion of the engagement surface of a given key is spaced farther from the engagement surface of at least a first adjacent key than the distance between the base portion of the given key and the at least first adjacent key.

9. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein one of the keys of the keypad is a <SPACE> key having as its upstanding engagement portion a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, the first engagement portion having a pair of upstanding engagement surfaces, one of the pair facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing, the other of the pair facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing, the second engagement portion having another upstanding engagement surface that faces in a direction toward at least some of the keys that are disposed in rows situated higher than the <SPACE> key.

10. A keypad structured for use with a handheld electronic device and being further structured to be operated by the thumbs of a user, the keypad comprising:

a plurality of keys situated in a plurality of rows that extend along a first direction and a plurality of columns that extend along a second direction;

the keys being arranged in a first array and a second array;

the keys being of a stepped shape and comprising a base portion and an upstanding engagement portion disposed on the base portion, the base portions each having a base surface, the engagement portions each having an upstanding engagement surface;

the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys each being oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another; the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the first array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the first array; and

the engagement surfaces of at least some of the keys of the second array are each oriented non-coplanar and non-parallel with one another, oblique to the first and second directions, and facing in a direction outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing in a fashion that varies according to the location of the engagement surface within the second array.

11. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 10 wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the first array each face generally toward a first fixed reference disposed at a location outboard of the right-hand portion of the housing, and wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the second array each face generally toward a second fixed reference disposed at a location outboard of the left-hand portion of the housing.

12. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 10 wherein the base surface and the engagement surface of each of at least some of the keys of the first array meet along an intersection axis of the key that is oriented generally perpendicular to an engagement axis of the key that extends between the intersection axis and the first fixed reference, the orientation of the engagement axis of the key varying according to the location of the key within the first array.

13. The handheld electronic device ofclaim 10 wherein the first fixed reference coincides with a position at or above a joint of a right hand of a user of the keypad at which a right thumb metacarpal articulates with a carpal.

14. The keypad ofclaim 10 wherein the engagement surface of each of at least some of the keys is oriented oblique to the base surface of the key.

15. The keypad ofclaim 14 wherein at least some of the base surfaces are oriented generally coplanar.

16. The keypad ofclaim 10 wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the first array each face generally away from the second array, and wherein at least some of the engagement surfaces of the second array each face generally away from the first array.

17. The keypad ofclaim 10 wherein, for each of at least some of the keys, at least a portion of the engagement surface of a given key is spaced farther from the engagement surface of at least a first adjacent key than the distance between the base portion of the given key and the at least first adjacent key.

18. The keypad ofclaim 10 wherein one of the keys is a <SPACE> key having as its upstanding engagement portion a first engagement portion and a second engagement portion, the first engagement portion having a pair of upstanding engagement surfaces, one of the pair facing in a direction outboard of the first array, the other of the pair facing in a direction outboard of the second array, the second engagement portion having another upstanding engagement surface that faces in a direction toward at least some of the keys that are disposed in rows situated higher than the <SPACE> key.

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